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Chapter 9 – Secrets in the Halls
The mansion was quieter than usual that morning, yet Catty felt the weight of unseen eyes. She moved carefully along the polished floors, balancing a basket of clean linens, but every shadow made her pulse quicken.
Sofia appeared, her expression unreadable. "I've been keeping an eye on you."
Catty froze. "Why?"
"Not out of suspicion," Sofia said softly, leaning closer. "But because the house isn't safe. Someone new… someone pretending to help, isn't just here for the chores."
Catty frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Watch your surroundings," Sofia warned. "And stay out of the restricted wings."
Catty nodded, a chill crawling up her spine. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following her every move.
---
Lara moved silently along the same hall, her steps measured, eyes sharp. She adjusted her maid uniform, making it appear casual, but her gaze never left Catty. Every gesture Catty made was logged, every interaction noted. The spy had been carefully instructed: gather intelligence on the new maid and, more importantly, figure out her connection to Logan.
She lingered just long enough to catch Catty's subtle glance in the mirror. Suspicious, Lara thought, noting the girl's alertness. She's sharper than she looks.
---
Down in the kitchen, Isabella's sharp heels echoed against the marble as she approached Catty. "I've been meaning to talk to you," she said, voice sweet but venomous.
Catty straightened. "About?"
"You're too curious for your own good," Isabella replied, leaning close. "Curiosity in this house isn't just dangerous—it's foolish. Learn your place, or someone will teach it to you."
Catty swallowed, forcing her voice steady. "I know my place."
Isabella smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "We'll see. Very soon."
---
Later, as Catty carried towels to the east wing, a cold draft slipped through the hall. She shivered, noticing a door ajar that usually remained locked. A faint metallic glint caught her attention—keys lying on a small desk.
Instinctively, she reached out, brushing her fingers across them. A flash of memory struck her: a dim room, shadows, a small hand gripping another. She recoiled. Where… where have I seen this before?
Her breath hitched, and the basket of towels clattered to the floor. The sound echoed through the empty hall.
"Catty?" Sofia's voice came from behind, soft but urgent.
"I… I thought I saw something," Catty stammered, stepping back.
Sofia's brow furrowed. "You shouldn't be near that wing. Trust me."
Catty nodded, her stomach twisting. The mansion suddenly felt larger, more dangerous, and far more mysterious than she had imagined.
---
Meanwhile, in the study, Logan sat reviewing the docks' operation logs. His amber eyes were sharp, yet a faint irritation lingered. The minor wound from the previous night itched, a small reminder of how close the Crimson Lotus had come.
"Something's moving inside the mansion," Ethan said quietly, appearing in the doorway.
Logan didn't look up. "Keep watching. Let them make a mistake. That's when we act."
Ethan's gaze lingered on the closed doors, unspoken tension hanging between them.
---
That afternoon, Catty tried to focus on her chores, but the earlier memory gnawed at her. She found herself drawn to the east wing again—not to enter, but to glance through the slightly ajar door.
A soft rustling made her spin. Lara stepped from the shadows, smiling politely.
"Good afternoon," she said.
Catty froze. "You… weren't supposed to be here."
"I'm just helping," Lara said smoothly. "Don't you think it's strange how quiet it is? The east wing hasn't been used in years, hasn't it?"
Catty's hands trembled slightly. "I… I don't know."
Lara's eyes sparkled faintly, but her tone held something sharper. "Curiosity can be dangerous. Be careful who you trust."
---
That evening, as dinner began, Isabella made her move. She assigned Catty to serve Logan personally—a task designed to put her in close proximity while also testing her composure.
Catty's hands shook slightly as she poured water into his glass. Logan noticed but said nothing, his amber eyes flicking briefly to Isabella, who watched smugly from across the table.
"You've grown steadier," Logan remarked casually, voice low.
Catty's heart skipped. "I… I'm learning."
He said nothing else, letting the silence linger—heavy, charged, and revealing more than words ever could.
---
After dinner, Catty returned to her quarters, tired but restless. The folded note from the rival group still sat in her pocket, the crimson lotus symbol staring back at her.
She pulled it out again, tracing the intricate design with her finger. The flashback returned—faint, fragmented: shadows, a hand pulling her through a doorway, a voice calling her name she didn't recognize.
A knock at her door startled her. Lara's voice called softly, "I just wanted to see if you were okay. Long day, isn't it?"
Catty's green eyes narrowed. "I'm fine. You can go."
"I'm just concerned," Lara replied sweetly, stepping closer. Her gaze scanned the room, calculating. "This house… hides a lot of things. Be careful who you trust."
Catty stepped back, heart racing. "I am."
But as Lara left, Catty couldn't shake the feeling she had just met someone far more dangerous than Isabella.
---
The night deepened. In the study, Logan's monitors flickered—an anomaly in the east wing cameras, brief but noticeable.
Ethan leaned closer. "Someone moved through the halls just now. Not Catty. Not a servant."
Amber eyes narrowed. "Good," Logan said softly. "They're reckless. That's when we strike."
---
Catty finally lay down in her small quarters, note still in hand. She stared at the ceiling, thinking of the shadows in the east wing, the strange girl, the flash of memory, and Logan's amber gaze.
Somewhere beyond the mansion gates, Crimson Lotus moved again. Their plans were advancing.
And one of their agents had already stepped inside the mansion.
The game had only just begun.